Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
THE Zanu-PF leadership in Gwanda has pledged full support for candidates that will be representing the party in the upcoming harmonised elections with party members being encouraged to follow suit.
Party members who contested for the Gwanda-Tshitaudze National Assembly seat during the recently held primary elections pledged their support for the winning candidate, Cde Fisani Moyo during a party meeting held at Johnsley area in Ward 23 last Wednesday.
Cde Moyo was up against Gwanda Central Committee member, Cde Trynos Nkomo, Cde Brighton Ndebele and ex-detainee Cde Steven Nyathi. The meeting was also used as an opportunity to introduce some of the local authority representatives under Gwanda-Tshitaudze Constituency to party members.
Speaking during the meeting Cde Ndebele said the primary election was over and it was now time for the party to show a united front heading towards the elections.
He said he was in full support of Cde Moyo as the candidate for the constituency and he respected the choice which was made by party members.
“The primary elections are over and even though at that time we were contesting for one position that has passed. We now have a representative and I would like to assure him of my unwavering support. Moving forward as we get into full gear campaign mode I will be in full support of Cde Moyo to ensure that we get this seat,” he said.
“The enemy is the opposition and not any one in the party. We want to achieve five million votes and in order to do so we have to support each other within the party. We don’t belong to members of the party but we belong to the party. Our loyalty is to the party and President Mnangagwa and not individuals. Therefore, whoever is representing the party at any level deserves our full support.”
Cde Nyathi said the country was liberated through bloodshed and Zanu-PF has been working tirelessly over the years to safeguard this liberation. He said party members have to continue safeguarding the revolutionary gains.
Cde Nyathi said he is prepared to offer his support and wisdom gained over the years to support Cde Moyo.
In an interview, Cde Nkomo said Zanu-PF has withstood the test of time because it is a united party. He said the party leadership has always preached and practised unity and so should party members. Cde Nkomo said the desire to occupy positions should not derail the party.
“Zanu-PF has always been a united party and we want it to stay that way. We have always been one as a party. The race that we had during the primaries was an internal race which was aimed at selecting members that will represent us in the coming harmonised elections. Now that we have selected our representatives we will continue as one,” he said.
“We are here to proclaim our position that the candidates that have been selected are the ones that we are standing by. Be it at council, MP level or Senate level. I would like to urge our members to be like-minded and emulate the unity which their leaders have.”
Cde Moyo expressed gratitude over the support declared by his comrades. He said he was honoured to be given an opportunity to represent the party and he was prepared to lead the party to victory in his constituency.
“I’m glad that my brothers are standing by me. I will really need their support and wisdom in this journey in ensuring victory in Gwanda-Tshitaudze Constituency.
“Of utmost importance is ensuring that President Mnangagwa wins resoundingly in my constituency. I don’t want a situation where I focus on my personal victory while forgetting my duty to the party. I would also like to apologise to those who might have been offended by any of those I was working with during the primary elections,” he said.
Cde Moyo vowed to work extra hard and promised to serve the people with the aim of bringing significant development to the community.
Also speaking during the meeting Zanu-PF Matabeleland South political commissar, Cde Washington Nkomo said while the primary elections did not go smoothly in some areas with party members complaining that their names were not on the voter’s roll, it was time to leave that in the past.
He said in Zanu-PF no one is a loser because the ultimate goal is to form a strong team that will represent the party in the elections. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter